Following the recent news that the London Borough of Bromley is considering cutting financial support to the Bromley Youth Music Trust, protests against their potential decision has come from all over the musical world in a bid to try and persuade local councillors to think again about their actions.

Hard hitting

The latest hard hitting letter of support has come from composer Nigel Clarke, who passionately believes that cutting the founding to such an important social foundation stone could have devastating effects — especially to those who actively participate in music making in its many forms.

In an open letter he states:

While the over 65’s gain financial advantage through Pensioner Bonds you are sacrificing the future of the young people of this country. Shame on you! You are murdering our great musical culture!Dr Nigel Clarke

To the 51 Conservative, 7 Labour & 2 UKIP Councillors of the London Borough of Bromley:

When you cut funding from Bromley Youth Music Trust (BYMT), you should consider that:

You kill the BYMT reputation that has built up through dedicated teaching and nurturing over many decades.

You kill a local success story.

You may kill a young person’s lifetime’s love affair with music.

You kill parent's or guardian's joy at seeing their children develop artistic talents.

You kill their audiences and supporters.

You kill the earnings of professional music teachers.

You kill the earnings of music shops, earned from sheet music, books and music stands through to musical instruments and their accessories.

You kill the earnings potential of the concert halls used by BYMT.

You kill the earnings of music publishers whose music is bought by the students of BYMT.

You kill the compositions of the composers who write music for BYMT.

You kill the earnings of percussion hire companies.

You kill the sense of teamwork that young musicians learn when they perform.

You kill music making opportunities for the young, especially those who do not go to schools with many musical resources (i.e. state schools as opposed to private).

You kill social integration.

You kill future professional careers in music, as there are countless musicians who started out on this road at BYMT

You kill the UK student potential who might attend our great conservatoires and university music departments.

You kill your own culture characterised by such great British names as Henry Purcell, Edward Elgar and Ralph Vaughan Williams

The London Borough of Bromley is not alone in cutting Arts funding.

While the over 65’s gain financial advantage through Pensioner Bonds you are sacrificing the future of the young people of this country.

Shame on you! You are murdering our great musical culture!

Dr Nigel Clarke